NORWALK -- When Norwalk High first stepped onto Jack Casagrande Field on Thanksgiving morning before a capacity-filled audience and the Sam Testa Trophy which rested in the near end zone, the Bears were well-versed in history, and the rarity of the occasion.

After all, for years, the Bears often spent late November embedded in mediocrity and as a mere afterthought in any postseason discussion.

But now, after Norwalk's 17-0 blanking of Brien McMahon in the 52nd all-time meeting between the city rivals on Thanksgiving, all those memories of seasons gone bad have changed.

Senior quarterback Delshawn Wilson piled up 131 total yards in the first half and did his part to spearhead a rigid effort on defense, as the Bears improved to 8-1 and earned a berth in the Class LL state playoffs for the first time since 1998. Winners of four straight, the Bears are locked in as the No. 5 seed in the eight-team field and will visit No. 4 Conard (9-1) in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. The Bears cut McMahon's lead in the all-time series between the schools to 31-19-1.

"When do you hear about Norwalk High?," Norwalk quarterback Delshawn Wilson asked, rhetorically. "Usually our scoreboard is on the other side for the entire year."

Thanks in large part to Wilson, who first stepped in at quarterback at the start of the season, those times are no more. Carefully executing a mistake-free offense, Wilson completed 10-of-18 passing attempts for 121 yards and carried the ball 14 times for 63 yards, en route to earning the inaugural Pete Tucci Trophy as Norwalk's Most Valuable Player.

"He's unbelievable. Offense, defense, you name it. He's just an unbelievable athlete," Norwalk head coach Sean Ireland said. "Not only is he a great athlete, he's a great leader."

Following a blocked punt by Norwalk linebacker Bobby Stringfellow after McMahon's opening drive, the Bears seized possession on the Senators' 40-yard line. Wilson promptly engineered a seven-play scoring drive that was capped on a 33-yard screen pass to tight end Gil Araujo on third-and-13. Araujo was the Bears' leading receiver on the day, hauling in five receptions for 81 yards.

From there, Norwalk's defense made sure the lead stood firm. Pressuring McMahon quarterback Damien Vega seemingly at will, the Bears held McMahon to just four first downs and forced a pair of turnovers. Vega completed just 8-of-16 passes for 58 yards, threw two interceptions and was sacked four times. The Senators were held to just 14 yards on the ground.

"They had a good scheme. We just didn't block well. That's the most important part of football," said McMahon head coach AJ Albano, whose team ended an up-and-down season at 3-7. "We were under pressure all day today -- the running backs, the quarterback, everybody. We were under so much pressure that we could barely execute a snap."

"Overall, that was our best effort defensively. We just had kids flying in," Ireland added.

McMahon's defense did its part to curtail the damage early but Norwalk struck again with 3:44 remaining before halftime. Senior running back Johnny Anzalone grabbed a handoff and burst through the line unscathed for a 10-yard touchdown to conclude a time-consuming nine-play, 76-yard drive.

Senior Jon Wilkins connected on a 31-yard field goal attempt on the next drive, with just 27 seconds left, to build Norwalk's lead and all but solidify its postseason hopes.

Stuck in neutral for much of the second half, McMahon's offense was given a potential game-changing opportunity with just over 10 minutes remaining when Wilkins, out of the punt formation, had to fall on a bad snap at Norwalk's 16-yard line. But the next play, Wilson undercut and intercepted Vega's pass.

"Coach (Ireland) is always telling us to turn the page. Our defense, with our backs against the wall, we came through again," said Wilson, who also starts at cornerback.

McMahon senior Zack O'Connor, a tight end and defensive end, caught one pass for nine yards, recorded a sack, and was awarded the Jack Casagrande Trophy as the Senators' Most Valuable Player.